Second round table evokes mixed reactions

Srinagar, May 25 (UNI) While Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and leaders of other mainstream parties, who participated in the second round table here, expressed satisfaction, separatists organisations said nothing was done at the conference on the core issue of Kashmir.

Mr Azad said all the leaders representing different groups, regions and mainstream parties played a constructive role during the second two-day roundtable chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

He said everybody expressed his or her viewpoints on different issues concerning the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Chief Minister said if the constructive approach adopted by these leaders from Jammu, Kashmir, Leh and Kargil during the conference continues in the future also, the day is not far away ''when we will be able to find a lasting peace in the state''.

He said there was no time limit this time for any speaker to express their views.

Chief patron of the National Conference(NC) Farooq Abdullah described the discussion during the conference as ''very healthy''.

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference was the loser as it boycotted the conference which would have provided them an opportunity to put forward their viewpoint on the Kashmir issue, he added.

They (APHC) failed in their duty, Dr Abdullah said, adding it was surprising that these leaders shared the table during their meeting with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf along with the leaders of mainstream parties from India, including NC president Omar and Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), but refused to be part of the conference here with the Indian Prime Minister.

The conference was the best platform for them to put their view point before the Prime Minister, he said.

Mr Omar Abdullah said the best solution to the Kashmir issue was restoration of total autonomy in the state.

''We have made our representation for the autonomy,'' he said and added if any other better way to resolve the Kashmir issue was possible ''we will welcome it''.

People's Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti said peaceful negotiation is the only way to find a lasting solution to the Kashmir issue.

About her party's stand on self-rule and demilitarisation, she said, ''We should consider this also to find a lasting solution to the issue, which has claimed thousands of lives so far.'' ''We should not reject this aspect because it has come from the Pakistan President, '' she said, adding the ceasefire on the borders too came from Pakistan which later benefited everybody after India reciprocated.

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